2011 august

24
June 30, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett signed off on a new $27.15 billion state budget that sought to eliminate an over $4 billion deficit without raising taxes. Already, many organizations and institutions in the Northside are feeling the cuts. Local state-funded primary and secondary education institutions and affiliated organizations are especially feeling the pinch of a tighter budget. The cut in major education programs spending totals $863 million. Overall, spending will be returned to 2008/09 levels, the last year before federal stimulus funding was made available. The Community College of Allegheny County will receive 10 percent less funding this fiscal year than they received last year. “In recent years, we had gotten stimulus money to fill the gaps, but that funding has expired,” said college spokesman David Hoovler. “We knew the reduction was coming and accordingly adjusted our annual budget.” The CCAC Board of Trustees approved a $2 per credit increase in tuition and also placed a freeze on all hiring. The school will additionally need to look at other areas, including class sizes, to see if there are other ways to work within the new budgetary constraints. The school plans to continue its open enrollment. “We want to keep education affordable and maintain the quality,” Hoovler said. Pittsburgh Public Schools are also feeling the crunch. According to Ebony Pugh, the district’s budget deficit for the 2011-12 school year is expected to be nearly $24 million and by 2015-16, it could reach $100 million. Meetings are being arranged to talk to residents about possible school closings. “We have begun conversations with the community on some difficult decisions that lie ahead,” said Pugh. “We’re going to be looking at everything.” Meetings run by A+ Schools, a community alliance for public education, will be on the Northside at the Pittsburgh Project and Northview Heights Citizens’ Council at the end of July. However, some aspects of the budget cuts will assist education. One benefit is an initiative to measure long-term teacher effectiveness and establish a more effective teacher rating system when assigning tenure. The budget also looks to apply stricter standards of achievement for state charter schools. Other institutions that are both directly and indirectly affected by cuts in the budget are local museums. The Carnegie Science Center Volume 27 No. 8 August 2011 4 12 -The Chronicle’s Daily Blog -Q&As with nonprofit leaders -Weekly real estate transfers -New Warhol Director 9 -News briefs -Going Green WWW.THENORTHSIDE CHRONICLE.COM ONLINE INSIDE STORIES, COLUMNS, FEATURES & MORE The CASGED added a little color to Tripoli Street Bridge and fur - thered their efforts to reconnect East Deutschtown with Historic Deutschtown. Check out the full story on page 8. Photo by Kelsey Shea Blooming on the bridge State budget cuts take a toll on the Northside By Margaret Singer See Budget, page 13 Work begins on new park By Kelsey Shea See Square, page 15 After about a year of planning, construction will finally begin on Allegheny Public Square this month, as a part of The Children’s Museum’s Charm Bracelet Project. At a meeting at The Children’s Museum July 28, just just three days before construction began on Allegheny Public Square, the museum, contractors and community members met to discuss plans and construction. “I believe many of you have been looking at that sunken plaza for the past decade, and I believe it’s taken a turn for the worse,” said Chris Siefert, deputy director of The Children’s Museum, who presented the new plans for the park and moderated the community meeting. Siefert said the newly designed park will include bio swells, meadow grass, tables, benches and an art installation by Ned Kahn called “Cloud Arbor,” which will be a series of 32-foot-tall poles that will create a cloud 9 feet above the ground. The park’s new design will revert back to a simple, updated “X-pattern,” similar to its original design in the 1890s. The finished park will have around 70 trees and be 70 percent grass, where now it has 20 trees and is about 65 percent concrete. “I think this will be a wonderful addition to our neighborhood,” said

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August edition of The Northside Chronicle

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Page 1: 2011 August

June 30, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett signed off on a new $27.15 billion state budget that sought to eliminate an over $4 billion deficit without raising taxes. Already, many organizations and institutions in the Northside are feeling the cuts.

Local state-funded primary and secondary education institutions and affiliated organizations are especially feeling the pinch of a tighter budget.

The cut in major education programs spending totals $863 million.

Overall, spending will be returned to 2008/09 levels, the last year before federal stimulus funding was made available.

The Community College of Allegheny County will receive 10 percent less funding this fiscal year than they received last year.

“In recent years, we had gotten stimulus money to fill the gaps, but that funding has expired,” said college spokesman David Hoovler. “We knew the reduction was coming and accordingly adjusted our annual budget.”

The CCAC Board of Trustees approved a $2 per credit increase in tuition and also placed a freeze on all hiring.

The school will additionally need to look at other areas, including class sizes, to see if there are other ways to work within the new budgetary constraints. The school plans to

continue its open enrollment.“We want to keep education

affordable and maintain the quality,” Hoovler said.

Pittsburgh Public Schools are also feeling the crunch. According to Ebony Pugh, the district’s budget deficit for the 2011-12 school year is expected to be nearly $24 million and by 2015-16, it could reach $100 million. Meetings are being arranged to talk to residents about possible school closings.

“We have begun conversations with the community on some difficult decisions that lie ahead,” said Pugh. “We’re going to be looking at everything.”

Meetings run by A+ Schools, a community alliance for public education, will be on the Northside at the Pittsburgh Project and Northview Heights Citizens’ Council at the end of July.

However, some aspects of the budget cuts will assist education.

One benefit is an initiative to measure long-term teacher effectiveness and establish a more effective teacher rating system when assigning tenure.

The budget also looks to apply stricter standards of achievement for state charter schools.

Other institutions that are both directly and indirectly affected by cuts in the budget are local museums.

The Carnegie Science Center

Volume 27 No. 8 August 2011

4

12

-The Chronicle’s Daily Blog

-Q&As with nonprofit leaders-Weekly real estate transfers-New Warhol Director 9

-News briefs

-Going GreenWWW.THENORTHSIDE

CHRONICLE.COM

ONLINEINSIDESTORIES, COLUMNS,FEATURES & MORE

The CASGED added a little color to Tripoli Street Bridge and fur-thered their efforts to reconnect East Deutschtown with Historic Deutschtown. Check out the full story on page 8.

Photo by Kelsey Shea

Blooming on the bridge State budget cuts take a toll on the NorthsideBy Margaret Singer

See Budget, page 13

Work begins on new parkBy Kelsey Shea

See Square, page 15

After about a year of planning, construction will finally begin on Allegheny Public Square this month, as a part of The Children’s Museum’s Charm Bracelet Project.

At a meeting at The Children’s Museum July 28, just just three days before construction began on Allegheny Public Square, the museum, contractors and community members met to discuss plans and construction.

“I believe many of you have been looking at that sunken plaza for the past decade, and I believe it’s taken a turn for the worse,” said Chris Siefert, deputy director of The Children’s Museum, who presented the new plans for the

park and moderated the community meeting.

Siefert said the newly designed park will include bio swells, meadow grass, tables, benches and an art installation by Ned Kahn called “Cloud Arbor,” which will be a series of 32-foot-tall poles that will create a cloud 9 feet above the ground.

The park’s new design will revert back to a simple, updated “X-pattern,” similar to its original design in the 1890s.

The finished park will have around 70 trees and be 70 percent grass, where now it has 20 trees and is about 65 percent concrete.

“I think this will be a wonderful addition to our neighborhood,” said

Page 2: 2011 August

Page 2 July 2011The Northside Chronicle

THE NORTHSIDE CHRONICLE 922MiddleSt.•Pittsburgh,PA15212

ManagingEditor Kelsey Shea E-mail: [email protected] AdvertisingManager Kaitlin Balmert E-mail: [email protected]

www.thenorthsidechronicle.com

Phone 412-321-3919 • Fax 412-321-1447

Mail Subscriptions are available at a rate of $30 per year.

Community MeetingsTo have your community meeting included, email [email protected]

DISCLAIMER:The viewpoints and opinions of the writers and contributors that appear in The Northside Chronicle do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints, opinions, beliefs or positions of The Northside Chronicle’s publishers, editors, staff and/or affiliates. The Northside Chronicle is not affiliated with any formal political, social, religious, educational or philosophical organization or party of any kind. The materials comprising The Northside Chronicle

are provided by various organizations, community groups, advertisers, entities, writers and contributors and are provided as a service to the readers of The Northside Chronicle on an “as-is” basis for informational purposes only. The Northside Chronicle assumes no responsibility for any copyright infringement, errors or omissions in these materials

and expressly disclaims any representations or warranties, express or implied, including, without limitation, any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose regarding the correctness, accuracy, completeness, timeliness and reliability of

the information provided. The Northside Chronicle is not responsible for damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance upon such information. Reference herein to any commercial product, process or service does not constitute or imply endorsement

or favoring by The Northside Chronicle.© The Northside Chronicle 2011

Allegheny West Civic Council2nd Tuesday, monthly, 7:30 p.m.Calvary United Methodist Church412.323.8884

Brighton Heights Citizens Federation2nd Thursday, bi-monthly, 7 p.m.Morrow Elementary School412.734.0233

Brightwood Civic Group3rd Tuesday, bi-monthly, 7 p.m.Pressley Ridge, 2611 Stayton St.412.732.8152

Brightwood Community Emergency Response Shelter3rd Thursday, monthly, 6 p.m.3219 Central Ave.

California-Kirkbride Blockwatch3rd Thursday, monthly, 7 p.m.1601 Brighton Rd., 3rd floor

California-Kirkbride Neighbors2nd Thursday, monthly, 7 p.m.1601 Brighton Rd., 3rd floor412.758.3898

Central Northside Neighborhood Council2nd Monday, monthly, 7 p.m.Allegheny Traditional Academy412.231.7742

Charles Street Area Council1st Monday, monthly, call for timesPittsburgh Project, 2801 N. Charles St.412.321.5567

Community Alliance of Spring Garden/East Deutschtown2nd Tuesday, monthly, 6:30 p.m.Fuhrer Building of St. Michael’s Church412.977.1979

Deutschtown New Hope Council3rd Thursday, monthly, 6:30 p.m.Community Center, 623 Suismon St.

East Allegheny Community Council2nd Tuesday, monthly, 7 p.m.Bistro Annex412.321.1204

Ex-offender Aftercare Support GroupSaturdays, 4-5:30 p.m.Allegheny Center Alliance Church801 Union Place

Fineview Citizens Council3rd Wednesday, monthly, 6:30 p.m.Reformed Presbyterian Home Pennsylvania Ave.412.231.0330

Mexican War Streets Society3rd Tuesday, monthly, 7 p.m.AUU Church, Resaca Pl. and North Ave.412.323.9030

Manchester Citizens CorporationQuarterly meetings, call for timesMCC Center, 1319 Allegheny Ave.412.323.1743

Manchester Public Safety MeetingQuarterly meetings, call for timesNorthside Leadership Conference412.323.1743

Northside Rotary ClubEvery Friday, noonCardello Building, 2nd Floor

Northside Coalition for Fair Housing Board2nd Monday, monthly, 6:30 p.m.1821 Brighton Rd.412.321.5527

Northside Coalition for Fair Housing MembershipMonthly, call for times1821 Brighton Rd.412.321.5521

Northside Leadership ConferenceCall for times4 Allegheny Center, Suite 601412.330.2559

North Side Lions Club2nd and 4th Tuesday, monthly, noonMax’s Allegheny Tavern

North Side Public Safety Council1st Thursday, monthly, 5:30 p.m.Northside Leadership Conference412.330.2559

Observatory Hill, Inc.3rd Wednesday, monthly, 7 p.m.Byzantine Seminary, 3605 Perrysville Ave.412.231.2887

Perry Hilltop Citizens’ Council4th Monday, monthly, 7:30 p.m.Angel’s Place, 2605 Norwood St.412.321.4632

The Promise GroupEvery other Tuesday, 6 p.m.Western Pa. Humane Society412.321.1019

Troy Hill Citizens CouncilSept. 15, Dec. 15North Catholic High School 412-321-2852

Spring Hill Civic LeagueSept. 12, Oct. 3 and Nov. 1Spring Hill Elementary [email protected]

Summer Hill Citizens Committee3rd Tuesday, monthly, 6:30 p.m.WPXI Television Station community room

2011Advertisingrates:SIZE Black & White Color 1/8 page $56 $681/4 page $118 $1571/2 page $229 $295Full page $452 $585Back Page $616Center Spread $965

Discounts of up to 20% off rate card price for multiple-insertion

contracts

Page 3: 2011 August

July 2011 The Northside Chronicle Page 3

For some residents, the long wait is over. Deli on North, an “Italian deli with an American slant,” is now open for business.

As of June 30 owner Pietro Notarangelo and his four full-time employees are serving soups, salads, sandwiches and more from a newly renovated space on North Avenue.

Deli on North is an extension of Lawrenceville’s Deli on Butler, owned by Notarangelo’s friend and business partner, Gary Gigliotti.

Most of the items on the menu are under $7, though the priciest offering is a 12-inch hoagie named the “Tutti,” which is Italian for “everything” and costs $7.75.

Notarangelo relied on suggestions from his and Gigliotti’s family, friends and customers to create the menu, which consist of Italian fare such as Genoa salami and capicola, as well as familiar

American staples such as coleslaw and tuna salad.

“We all sat down with our families and picked some things that we thought would work,” said Notarangelo.

He said the most popular item on his menu is a specialty sandwich

called the “Pasquale,” named after Gigliotti’s father. It contains three different types of meat, two different types of cheese, red onions and Italian dressing.

Notarangelo was inspired with the idea for Deli on North after observing the success at Deli on

Butler. After conversations with Gigliotti about expanding the business, he decided to open a second location on the Northside.

The Northside was an ideal community to open the deli, he said, because it is not only “convenient,” but also “going through a lot of innovation.” Though he lives in Verona, Notarangelo has worked at a recording studio on the Northside for about 20 years.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better location,” said Notarangelo.

Located next to Crazy Mocha, the deli occupies what was once an abandoned building. Notarangelo originally planned to open the deli at the beginning of June, but cited “flooring and wiring issues” as reason for delay.

However, the biggest obstacle to opening the business, he said, was his desire for “everything to be

Long-awaited new deli opens on North AvenueBy Jeanette Lee

Owner Pietro Notarangelo stands by the chalkboard menu in his new establishment, Deli on North at 4 E. North Avenue.

Photo by Kelsey Shea

See Deli, page 14

Page 4: 2011 August

Page 4 July 2011The Northside Chronicle

News BriefsNSCDF hosts annual luncheon

The Northside Community Development Fund hosted its fourth annual luncheon July 9 at the Lexus Club in PNC Park with Sen. Bob Casey D-Pa. as the keynote speaker on video conference.

The luncheon recognized members of the community and partnerships that helped the fund gain 2.460 million dollars in loan capital to invest into Northside neighborhood businesses this year.

A total of over 3 million dollars in additional funds were presented to NSCDF at the luncheon by several banks, Rivers Casino, the US Small Business Administration and the federally run Community Development Financial Institution Fund. The money will be used to distribute loans and financial services to local businesses to promote community development.

Casey’s speech focused on the importance creating jobs to stimulate both local and national economies through local businesses and nonprofits like NSCDF.

“The impact of creating a job in the Northside will have a critical impact on the city and community as a whole.” Photo Antiquities plans move

Last month, The Museum of Photo Antiquities announced plans to relocate to the former Allegheny Social Hall in East Deutschtown, where they hope to triple the visitors they get per year.

Owner Bruce Klein hopes to go from 5,000 visitors per year to 30,000 to 50,000 per year. If the increase in visitors seems like a lot, it is. But the increase in space will be equally large: from 1,800 square feet to 18,000 square feet.

“We have turned down groups of 100 here already so we will

absolutely attract more visitors,” Klein said. “We will be able to accept all of those people at once.”

With relocation Photo Antiquities can add features like a research library, a small theater to show old photographic lantern slides, classrooms and permanent archival space.

Although Photo Antiquities already owns the building, it has been empty for 40 years. It needs utility work, new heating and air conditioning systems and new windows.

Klein said he was still working with architects and did not yet have a final cost for the project or a fund raising goal. Once the yet-to-be determined amount is reached, the museum can move within one year. National Night Out

On August 2, 2011, 25 Pittsburgh neighborhoods, including California-Kirkbride, Fineview and Deutschtown participated in the annual National Night Out program sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch organization.

The purpose of these events is to raise community awareness of safety issues and establish neighborhood watch training for communities want to be active in dealing with crime.

The events hoped to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for, local anticrime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and “send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back,” according to City Council.

Activities included picnics, porch parties, games for children and more.

REACH MORE THAN

10,000 PEOPLEIN

16 NEIGHBORHOODSEACH MONTH

By ADvERTISING IN THE CHRONICLE

Page 5: 2011 August

July 2011 The Northside Chronicle Page 5

Former Writer in Residence at the City of Asylum, Horacio Castellanos Moya, is having the busiest summer of his life, with a newly translated novel, “Tyrant Memory,” a book reading and signing event and a move to Iowa after five years of living on the Northside.

Before departing at the end of July to take a faculty position at the University of Iowa, Castellanos Moya gave a reading to a group of 140. The event RSVP was so large that City of Asylum had to rent a tent to accommodate the crowd.

“It went great,” said City of Asylum Director Henry Reese about the event. “The reading was terrific, and the weather was perfect.”

Castellanos Moya was born in Hondurus before moving to El Salvador with his family at a young age. He also lived in Mexico City, Toronto, Frankfurt and San José before coming to Pittsburgh as a City of Asylum resident writer.

In addition to teaching at the University of Pittsburgh and working as a journalist, Castellanos Moya has published eight novels, all in Spanish. His position will be

in Iowa’s Spanish creative writing program.

“I’m grateful to Pittsburgh because I got a lot of support here to do my work. I met very nice people that understood my situation and supported me to put all that effort into my [latest] book,” said Castellanos Moya.

Castellanos Moya’s newly translated novel, “Tyrant Memory,” is an ambitious work as it incorporates three different points of view that witness an attempted coup d’état in 1940s El Salvador.

The story’s three narrators are a conservative, Catholic woman, a friend of the woman’s husband and two men who were intimately involved in the attempt to oust the dictator. It was written to mimic a diary style and the woman’s voice provides the foundation for this piece of historical fiction.

A New York Times book review called “Tyrant Memory” is Castellanos Moya’s “most ambition novel to date.”

“I agree it’s the most ambitious in the sense that I am handling more characters and I was working on a period of history that I don’t have

direct experience,” said Moya. “There was no chance of having direct sources. There are of course [some direct sources], but they are too old, and I had no access to them. My father even took part in the coup de tat, but I could not take advantage of his experience because I was too young.”

Castellanos Moya is not sure how long he will remain in Iowa, but the position will put him on track for tenure. To some extent, he says it will depend on the weather.

“I will remember Pittsburgh…with gratitude. Nothing is very far away on the planet, everything is so close now,” Castellanos Moya said.

Renowned writer says farewell to NorthsideBy Margaret Singer

L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry finds a second home

In 2006, L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministries, like the people they serve, needed a home.

Five years later, they’ve renovated one house for the homeless and are currently working on a second home on Maple Avenue in Perry Hill Top.

L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry, an organization dedicated to helping the homeless, began renovating its first house in 2006 because they lacked a headquarters to develop their discipleship program.

The house they are currently renovating was purchased in 2009 and was once used as a drug house. It is right next door to their headquarters.

“Someone would have given us a free house in East Liberty, but we found this one [on Maple Avenue] and we took it,” said Executive Director Charles Chapman..

Those close to the organization said the renovations were akin to the work of the faith-based group. They want to “build upon the old and see what it can be”.

When L.I.V.I.N.G. wanted to begin its renovations on their second house, they sent out emails, applied for state grants and received donations Within six weeks they had

raised $14,000 to fund the project. The group hopes to finish all the

restorations within a year or two. The first house took almost three years to complete.

Chapman said the ministry welcomes 700 volunteers from all across the country, who logged nearly 6,000 work hours last year.

Ultimately L.I.V.I.N.G. would like the new house to operate a five days a week program where the homeless in the community can come and be active by operating a small grocery store or a similar project.

The ministry interacts with 1,500 homeless people during the year and visits 10,000 people in city shelters.

With this project, Chapman said the ultimate goal is not only to transform the house from its decrepit state but to transform the lives of its following through the renovations.

“Our theory, our motivation,” Chapman said, “is to transform the spirit of a person.”

To find out more about L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry and their work, visit www.livingministry.org or call 412-586-4663.

By Margaret Singer

Volunteers begin renovations on L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry’s second house on Maple Avenue in Perry Hill Top.

Photo Courtesy L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry

Photo courtesy City of Asylum

Page 6: 2011 August

Page 6 July 2011The Northside Chronicle

Pre-development under-way at former St. John’sBy Jeanette Lee

When St. John’s Health and Hospital Center vacated Brighton Heights in 1997, the Brighton Heights Citizens Federation decided to start a development project to build new homes in its place.

Twelve years after it hatched its plan, the federation is working with the Urban Redevelopment Authority and contractors to assess the topography of the land.

According to Pete Bellisario, the president of the Brighton Heights Citizens Federation, the reason for the long wait is “strictly money.”

“We don’t have money upfront to do something,” said Bellisario.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority provided $230,000 and the Northside Leadership Conference provided $75,000 through Rivers Casino grant funds for initial site development and a market study.

The federation has a preliminary plan to build 17 new housing units on the four-acre plot.

Although the specific types of housing haven’t yet been decided, Bellisario said that he expects the homes to have at least two bedrooms, “probably” two bathrooms and a one car garage.

The plot of land where St. John’s Hospital once stood is an ideal location for housing because of its proximity to California Avenue and Ohio River Boulevard. From the site, residents could easily access the North Hills and Downtown.

“That part of the world is a buffer zone for Brightwood and Brighton Heights,” said Bellisario.

In addition to utilizing empty property, the federation hopes to spur growth by attracting new people to the neighborhood.

“There are a lot of abandoned houses. It’s a blight. A part of the game will be that, once we start building, some of the houses on Fleming can be bought and sold,” Bellisario said.

Page 7: 2011 August

July 2011 The Northside Chronicle Page 7

This baseball season, The Brighton Heights Athletic Association hit a home run when it received a new field from Pirates Charities and an employee volunteer grant from Highmark.

One of the BHAA’s old baseball fields was newly refurbished through the Pirates Charities program and the Heinz Endowments. The association also received a $500 grant from Highmark Inc.

The newly named Sanguigni Field was rededicated July 7 with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The field was funded by Pirates Charities and the Heinz Endowments and designed to be an environmentally friendly field by Astorino. The field was chosen by the city due to its need for renovations and its water drainage problems.

Sanguigni Field features a bio retention swale along the skirt of the outfield, a rain garden to catch water and drywells to solve the water drainage problem.

Other green features include revitalized grass, freshly planted trees, a backstop made out of recycled tires and waste receptacles and a scoreboard that both use solar power.

Even the stain on the refurbished

dugouts was a low volatile organic compound that minimizes environmental and health hazards caused by the chemicals in regular stain.

The total renovation cost $250,000.

“The most important thing about Sanguigni Field is, not only does the renovation provide a new, safe environment for more than 300 youth of Brighton Heights, it also contains several environmentally-friendly elements, which will now provide an educational opportunity for children and adults using and visiting the field in the future,” said Matt Norby of the Pirates Charities

Just days after the rededication of the field, it was announced that the BHAA would also receive a grant from Highmark’s Employee Volunteer Program.

Northside resident and BHAA volunteer Sandy Mastele applied for the grant through her job at Highmark, and received $500 for the athletic association.

The money will be used to maintain the fields and cover the cost of children whose families cannot afford fees that go towards buying newer and safer equipment.

“We’re very thankful and grateful for both organizations,” said BHAA President Mike Gavlik.

By Kelsey Shea

BHAA recieves new field from Pirates Charities

Pirates President Frank Coonlley cut the ribbon at the rededication of Sanguigni Field on July 7.

Photo Courtesy Dave Arrigo/Pittsburgh Pirates

Page 8: 2011 August

Page 8 July 2011The Northside Chronicle

Last month, the Community Alliance of Spring Garden/East Deutschtown made their neighborhood a little more colorful and hopefully more united.

Planters of shrubs and flowers placed along the Tripoli Street Bridge are the latest installment in a five-year initiative by the CASGED, to brighten up its neighborhood.

“We exist to try to help bring about the economic revitalization of these two areas,” Ruth Ann Dailey, the CASGED president said. “Greening projects and beautification are an important part of our plan.”

At 5 p.m. July 21, City Council President Darlene Harris cut the ribbon to unveil the new planters on the bridge that connects Historic Deutschtown to East Deutschtown.

“As soon as we contacted [Darlene] and told her about the project she jumped on it,” Dailey said. “In a couple of hours she made sure we heard from every person involved with it, it was so incredible for them to work so fast.”

Mark Fatla, the executive director of the Northside Leadership Conference was also in attendance, along with Ed Graf and the neighbors of the East Allegheny Community Council.

There are now nine new planters on the Tripoli Street Bridge.

Three bright red planters

were formally located at Schenley High School were donated by the conservancy along with some shrubs. The other six grey planters were purchased by CASGED.

With the planters, flowers and a watering contract, the entire project cost about $3,500.

The CASGED chose the Tripoli Bridge as their landmark for the planters because they wanted to focus on high-traffic corridors that were accessible for their neighbors, Dailey said.

When te middle of Deutschtown was ripped out to clear space for the new highway, the third part was completely demolished.

“In reality we represent the two severed halves,” Dailey said. “It’s symbolic to do the project as a living link to their green plants between the two sides. It’s more inviting and more humane than concrete wastelands.”

Over the years, CASGED has additionally acquired over 50 hanging flower baskets for the commercial strip of Chestnut and Spring Garden Street and completed two additional green up sites on Chestnut as well.

“When an area looks cared for, that improves the quality of life and attracts new investment. The greening of Tripoli Bridge is the most ambitious and highest impact we have done so far,” Dailey said.

June NSC Blog HighlightsFor full stories go to www.thenorthsidechronicle.com/blog

The Northside Chronicle Blog is updated daily with photos, event previews, interviews, videos and more. Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Weekly News RoundupEach Friday The Chronicle posts

links to Northside news stories from other local media outlets.

Weekly Events ListingsEach Thursday the The

Chronicle highlights a few of the weekend happenings in your neighborhood. July 13- Housing Court Cases July 19- AGH awards July 12- Warhol Museum App

By Ashley Goodsell

Planters on Tripoli Bridge

Page 9: 2011 August

July 2011 The Northside Chronicle Page 9

Pitt Alum and former Japanese scholar, Eric Shiner, was officially named director of the Andy Warhol Museum last month, after serving as the acting director since January. The Northside Chronicle recently sat down with Shiner to discuss his goals for the museum, his love of art and the call that brought him back to Pittsburgh after many years abroad.

Northside Chronicle: If you were not involved with museums, what other profession could you see yourself in?Eric Shiner: I’m definitely not one of those people who have any regrets. Things happen for a reason. It would have been something creative. I once toyed with being an architect. My family owns a chocolate factory, and my dad wanted me to take it over. In the greater scheme of things [doing that] wasn’t of interest to me.

NSC: Where do you see yourself and the museum in the next year? The next 5 years?ES: Within a year we want to rethink the entire visitors’ experience here at the museum and update things that need a new way of doing things. The physical appearance and the property may take on a different look and feel. I want to make it very engaging and open, extend our reach onto the streets and make it inviting to our neighbors. That’s my goal for the next year. In five years, I hope we have extended our reach globally to be a full-tilt player in the international museum scene. Not only are we out and actively engaged in all kinds of things in the world, but also attract international visitors. With our

team, I hope to cement our position as the best museum in the world.

NSC: Where do you see Pittsburgh’s art scene headed?ES: I think Pittsburgh really has a dynamic arts community that is becoming more diverse and more engaging by the day. We see more artists moving here now from all over the world. It’s viable. It’s affordable. It’s tenable to have a life here and still maintain a career in New York. People are starting to rethink what it means to live in a city. We will be one of the prime examples

Warhol Museum officially names new director

See Shiner, page 13

New director Eric Shiner poses in the museum with a few of Andy Warhol’s famous silk screens.

Photo courtesy Ric Evans

By Margaret Singer

Page 10: 2011 August

Page 10 July 2011The Northside Chronicle

By Ashley Goodsell

Family relocates to the Northside for Steelers

Gene Smolko has been a Steelers fan for 60 years, and his wife Maria Smolko for 47.

Steelers memorabilia plasters the walls and shelves of the Smolko family room, including a unique 2009 Superbowl puzzle, Steel Curtain figurines, Superbowl magazine clippings, Steelers clocks and much more.

The trim of their family room is even painted gold.

A Tupperware bin in the Smolko home is filled with Steelers jerseys with throwbacks of Antwaan Randle El, Rod Woodson and Ziggy Hood.

But perhaps the greatest testament to the Smolko’s dedication, is their home on the Northside, where they moved seven weeks ago to be in the same city as the team they love.

Gene, 68, and Maria, 65, lived in Lancaster, Pa for 25 years before they made their decision in 2009 to move to Pittsburgh after a series of visits centering around their love for the black and gold.

“The Steelers brought us to Pittsburgh, and the city kept us here. I have fallen in love with the city,” Maria Smolko said.

Before making their decision, Gene and Maria visited the city a few times every year to attend Steelers training camp and a regular season game.

In 2009, Gene and Maria’s visit made their decision for them. After walking around the city for two days, Gene and Maria were set on Pittsburgh.

“I can remember, it was September, my birthday weekend,” Maria Smolko said. “We were standing on the North Shore looking at [the] city, looking across the river, and I said, ‘I want to live here, this is where I want to live.’”

One of Maria’s co-workers

bought their house in Lancaster and made their dream a reality.

Gene and Maria moved to the top floor of Allegheny Center apartments in the Northside on June 3 of this year.

Now that Gene and Maria are retired, they walk four or five hours a day all over the city, from the Strip District to Station Square.

Maria said that her neighbors are so friendly. She said that she is falling in love with the Northside, and that she cannot stop praising the city.

Although Maria’s dream is to meet Jerome Bettis, she and Gene have been attending many Pirates games and recently met Steelers’ defensive end, Nick Eason.

“Two years ago, my son met [Jerome Bettis] and got his picture taken with him,” Maria said. “My son brought it home, got in enlarged and gave it to me. He is the one who got to meet him, but before I die, I’m gonna meet that man.”

In 2005, when the Steelers made a playoff run, Maria surprised her husband with a seven-foot Christmas tree, decorated with gold ornaments with the players numbers painted on them.

Maria adds ornaments to the seven-foot Christmas tree each year.

“When we got married 47 years ago, I was going to either become a Steelers fan or football widow so I became a Steelers fan,” Maria said. “My daughter always says, ‘well it was born in us, it is a part of the genetics.’”

Maria and Gene have two children and six grandchildren, all of which are devoted Steelers fans.

“The city opened its heart and I’m at home, I feel like I’ve been here forever,” Maria said. “I can’t put in words how much I love my new home and the people here.”

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July 2011 The Northside Chronicle Page 11

Despite the hot weather, on July 17, the Mr. Rogers statue on the North Shore donned a new red sweater, crocheted by local crafter Alicia Kachmar (above). The sweater was sponsered by Outpost Jour-nal, a national cultural magazine who’s inagural issue will focus on Pittsburgh and include a feature on the Northside’s City of Asylum.

Photo by Meredith Younger

Mr. Rogers bundles up

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By Joseph Reznik

Air Quality Action Days pose threats during heat waves

As the last week in July has reminded us, summer is more than hot weather.

The hot weather combined with the sun and pollutants from cars, lawn mowing and outdoor grilling form ground level ozone which cause Ozone Action Days to be enacted, or Air Quality Action Days as they are referred to now.

This is a serious issue and I hope that residents pay heed to these warnings because air pollution does not need to be black to be dangerous.

It may actually be one of the failures to our success in that most of the air pollution today is not black because a white haze just does not seem as an ominous threat to your health.

However statistics for health problems related to air pollution in the region show that this is not the case. Almost 5,000 students in the Pittsburgh School System suffer from asthma.

That is 14% of the children in our school system. And they are not the ones whose actions and behaviors are harming their health.

As a precaution on Air Quality Action Days, people with respiratory ailments, like asthma, are recommended not to go outside.

This is a shame because after being confined indoors for most of the winter, we should be able to go outside and enjoy the summer.

This is an issue not just for parents, but summer camp teachers who do not want to take their kids outside because of the worry about a child getting sick and the liability they might incur.

Besides the fact that it is just fun to be outside, several studies have shown that outdoor activities improve both a person’s mental and physical well-being.

So the question becomes, ‘Is clean air a privilege or a basic human right?’ I argue that it that it is a basic human right.

And as such, it is each person’s responsibility to take actions or change behaviors that will diminish and eventually eliminate pollution.

So start with something simple, like taking the bus or walking to work one day a week.

And once this becomes a routine, like grabbing your cloth bags before you head into the grocery store, find a way to do this twice a week.

Small actions that overtime become routine will lead to a better lifestyle and improved health for everyone.

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of the great American city. I sense a newfound energy. I’m excited to see what happens.

NSC: Why do you like being on the Northside?ES: The thing I like the most is that it’s a diverse neighborhood; economically, socially. It’s the kind of place I feel at home. The architecture is fantastic and of historical significance. It’s a nice place [for the museum] to call home.

NSC: Do you have a favorite spot on the Northside?ES: The St. Anthony’s Chapel up on Troy Hill is such a hidden jewel that everyone should go see. It is the second largest reliquary outside of Rome. It’s absolutely amazing.

NSC: Why did you choose to return to Pittsburgh after a few years in Japan?ES: When I came back from Japan (I was there for 5 years), I was offered a job at a major museum there. If I had taken it, I would have been there for the rest of my life. I didn’t want to be that person. I was accepted to Yale and had opportunities for me in the US. I hit New York at the exact right time. Asian art was booming, and I was one of the few that had a background in it. All the right time, right place kind of thing. I never thought about coming back to Pittsburgh as an option until I started to look at other jobs within the museum system. The Andy Warhol Museum had received an endowment to bring on a curator, and the former director got in contact with me and asked, ‘How do you feel about coming home?’ It became very desirable very quickly. It seemed right.

The Andy Warhol Museum is located on Sandusky Street and is open six days a week. For more information about Eric and the museum, please visit: www.warhol.org.

Q&A with Warhol director

traditionally has not received much state funding, but this year even that small amount has been reduced to zero.

While that will not hurt the Science Center immediately, it could have a greater impact on the discounted ticket program they currently offer to local schools. Schools that also have to rearrange their programs to accommodate fewer state dollars may no longer be able to fit in educational trips.

“We won’t know the real impact until this fall,” said Co-Director of the Carnegie Science Center Ron Baillie. “Once the budget cuts become clear, schools using the center might decrease dramatically.”

Margaret Singer is currently working toward her master’s degree in journalism at Point Park University.

Budget cuts will affect Northside organizations

From Shiner, page 9

From Budget, page 1

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July 2011 The Northside Chronicle Page 14

Ay

Peace is a word that is often underappreciated and not seen for its true value.

More than the word itself, the meaning and power of its abilities are truly taken for granted. One meaning, according to dictionary.com, defines it as “untroubled; tranquil; content; a state of mutual harmony with self and with others.”

Peace has the ability to heal, to fix what is broken, to calm storms, to silence the noises of confusion and to bring light to areas that have always been in the dark.

I have experienced individuals that are in the group of those that do not appreciate peace. They seem to cringe when all is going well and when there are no battles to fight.

Therefore, they destroy their own peace by creating chaos in their own lives and worse yet in the lives of others. Living in constant combat and confusion distorts one’s vision of what life is all about. I say to these

people, “Peace be unto you.”There are also those that do not

value the peace in their lives. These individuals make the mini issues in their lives gigantic ones. All of their bills are paid, they are in good health, they have great friends and family, yet they are the ones complaining endlessly about the local store not having any bananas.

Spending more time acknowledging what is wrong rather than what is right causes one to block new blessings from entering their lives or to lack hope about the future. I say to these people, “Peace be unto you.”

For those of us that honor and savor the blessing of peace when it is available to us, we must feel confident and secure in revealing how peace has healing, repairing, calming, silencing and enlightening power.

Taking advantage of the peaceful periods in our lives gives us the time to collect the wisdom, strength, and patience to handle the challenges that life itself will bring to us for the purpose of our growth. We must let the drama chasers know that it is okay to be happy and not to go on a hunt for the next battle. We must balance the complainer by reminding them that if Kuhn’s doesn’t have any more bananas, Giant Eagle does. It’s OK.

Peace exudes from the inside out and transforms environments of chaos and confusion to harmony and order. My father, a wise man, recently reminded me that when you have peace within yourself, you will have peace with others.

‘Peace be unto you’The Healing Space by Ayeshah A. Bulls

perfect” on opening day.“There’s an anxiety that happens

when you open a new business. [I felt that] everything should be perfect, everything should be in place,” said Notarangelo.

“I guess I was my own biggest obstacle.”

In the future, Notarangelo hopes to continue expanding the business.

“If we get the formula right, we’d like to open another deli in the Pittsburgh community, maybe in the South Hills.”

Deli on North is currently open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. However, Notarangelo said he is considering extending his hours based on customer feedback.

Jeanette Lee is a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University studying Professional Writing and Investigative Journalism.

New deli opensFrom Deli, page 3

“We Will think in peace, speak in peace, knoW-

ing in our hearts that We Will draW

like.”

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Back in “the day,” when I first read Frederick Lewis Allen’s popular description of the 1920s titled “Only Yesterday,” I thought the title was somewhat farfetched. But, time has a way of making such phraseology meaningful.

In a recent conversation with a fairly young neighbor about the Northside, we began talking about the Summer Hill neighborhood. It seemed like “only yesterday” that I spent the summer of 1961 working as a substitute letter carrier out of 15214 –– the Observatory Hill Post Office.

Mail routes from that station, located on Perrysville Avenue directly across from Perry High School, served a number of communities now known as Perry Hilltop, Observatory Hill, East Street Valley (deceased) and Summer Hill. There was no Northview Heights in 1961; at that location were a few farmhouses as well as a few cows. That summer was an eye-opening experience as I was sent out to the far northwest sections of the city.

Every route was unique, as were the letter carriers at 15214. Carriers like Christopher, Logue, Murphy and Zelik added to the flavor of the “setting-up room.” One carrier who always made sure I had work every day was Melvin Bowman.

A few years back, while shopping at Keystone, an impeccable white Chevy with the vanity plate MELBOW was parked next to my car. Seeing that plate, took me back a few decades which seemed like “only yesterday.”

In 1961 MelBow worked three jobs before arriving at 15214, and he had already delivered donuts to several hospitals and restaurants scattered throughout the city.

He was always willing to set up the mail for his route and let me deliver it while he headed home. The Bowman home, at 6 Magnet St., was in the very center of a route that began at the corner of Perrysville and Charles and meandered down to the corner of Suffolk and East. Mel was often on the porch when I made my way down his street. At East Street, which was far below the present roadbed of I-279, Bowman’s route intersected with that of a carrier whose name was Helbling.

I was assigned Helbling’s route the during his two week vacation. This route started at Venture and Perrysville and headed down to East

Street. Near the bottom of that hill was Hyperion Street and the factory of the Unertle lens company.

A section of East Street between Venture and Mt. Pleasant Road was filled with many mom and pop businesses. During those weeks I became a regular at the Von Arx bakery. The route continued up through the various streets and pathways of “Summer Hill.”

The drop box for almost all of the remaining homes in this neighborhood was at the corner of Colby and Faber in the midst of an enclave of suburbia. The route eventually returned via Chapin and Landay to East Street. Many of those homes and streets on both sides of East Street were obliterated for the interstate. Summer Hill in those days had several “farmettes” with chickens and even a few cows. Yes there were cows, but it was the goats that surprised me on another route that passed through Nelson Run Road.

The approach to Nelson Run was simple enough. Ivory Avenue, very much like most city streets, connected Perrysville Avenue to Nelson Run. However, at some point along Nelson Run Road the route veered through a hayfield leading to the next address.

While walking toward that house, a big old late 19th century manse, strange rustling sounds emerged from the high grass. Half way across this field a number of goats suddenly appeared. In a brief moment I made two discoveries: (1) all the goats were fastened by collars and ropes to stakes and (2) they were owned by one Mr. Howard C. Gregg, who had been my Physics teachers at Oliver. Small world! When I got to the Gregg home with the mail I was offered a great glass of ice water. What relief –– both from the heat and the goats.

That summer of ‘61 at 15214 was filled with many memorial experiences. Each mail route had its own unique topographical, as well as cultural, characteristics.

I gained a knowledge of that section of the North Side as well as a definite appreciation of the work done by letter carriers. I also learned why they all sought substitute carrier on the day water bills were to be delivered to every address on every route.

Half a century later it all seems like it was “only yesterday.”

John Canning and the 15214 Allegheny Square constructionAllegheny West resident Dennis McAndrew, who was one of the many community members excited about the plans for the park.

However, some residents expressed concern over maintenance, security and construction.

Siefert noted that Allegheny Public Square was a City-run park, and that the City maintains it.

At the word “maintain,” the some people in the crowd laughed and scoffed.

Residents complained of Allegheny Public Square’s crime and litter, specifically a bag of rotten potatoes that had a particularly extended residency in the concrete park.

Siefert said that the Children’s Museum and the City agreed on a shared maintenance contract, and that the park would have landscapers for the first year.

Additionally, part of the park’s 6 million dollar estimated project cost, will include a maintenance fund to keep the new park clean and safe.

Though no deals have been

made, Siefert said The Children’s Museum “opened conversations” with Allegheny Center about extending the building’s 24-hour security to the park as well.

The Museum said that they have 5 million dollars, with a conditional 1 million dollars, raised towards the 6 million dollar goal to build the park.

In order to turn the current sunken concrete park into a level and green park, contractors estimate 4-5 weeks of demolition before clearing the debris and filling in the concave space with soil.

Residents of Allegheny Center expressed concern about the noise and dust, and the disruption it would cause in the neighborhood.

The Project Manager from P.J. Dick Contracting Inc., Noah Shaltes, said that they would use water to limit dust and debris and would work 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. to limit the daily noise disturbance.

Shaltes hoped that the project would be finished by May of 2012.

From Square, page 1

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Two town hall meetings in August for Nside

I will hold two town hall meetings in August, which will be open to all Northside residents. The first meeting is intended primarily for residents of the lower Northside neighborhoods of Allegheny West, Manchester, California-Kirkbride, Central Northside, Mexican War Streets and East Allegheny,.Representatives of neighborhood organizations are invited to briefly

speak on their achievements, projects and upcoming events.

This meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4 at the Letter Carriers Building, 841 California Ave., Pittsburgh, 15212, and the doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

The second town hall meeting is intended for residents of the upper Northside – Marshall-Shadeland, Brighton Heights, Charles Street, Fineview and Perry Hilltop. This meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18 at the Pittsburgh Project, 2801 N. Charles St., Pittsburgh, 15214, and the doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

In addition, Northside residents are invited to my annual district-wide Community Appreciation Day on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Kennard Field, located off Reed Street between Kirkpatrick and Soho streets in the Hill District.

I would also like to remind everyone that, each month, I provide

mobile office hours for North Side residents to access state services and information. The mobile office hours are held the last Wednesday of each month from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Allegheny City Room at the Carnegie Library Allegheny Branch, 1230 Federal St. A notary public is available during these hours, by appointment only.

Other state services my office can help you with include PACE/PACENET prescription-drug cards for seniors and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides free or low-cost insurance. My main office is also available to help you. The People’s Office is located on the first floor of 2015-2017 Centre Ave.; the telephone number is 412-471-7760.

State Rep. Jake Wheatley19th Legislative District

From the office of State Rep. Jake Wheatley

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Brighton Heights Raymond Brooks to Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. trustee at 1419 Beckham St. for $1,761 by sheriff ’s deed. Thomas Galuska Jr. to National Residential Nominee Services In at 3656 Harbison Ave. for $122,020. National Residential Nominee Services In to John and Brenda Schuck at 3656 Harbison Ave. for $122,020. Estate of John Bartholomew to Wells Fargo Bank NA at 3426 Massachusetts Ave. for $1,557 by sheriff ’s deed. Bank New York Mellon trustee to Fortune Foreclosures LLC at 1516 Orchlee St. for $14,900. Seth Vlosich to William Kowallis at 1413 Cooper Ave. for $69,900. Todd Ferraro to Brian and Annette Tarbuk at 3609 Harbison Ave. for $129,900 Estate of Audrey Lomb to Risa Schmiedlin at 3470 Campus St. for $83,000. Estate of Joseph Iaquinta to Nicholas and Jessica Sauers at 3454 Rigel St. for $119,000. Federal National Mortgage Assn. to Kristoffer Bennett at 3514 Shadeland Ave. for $52,500. Dale Csonka to DEC Northside Properties LLC at 3624 California Ave. and Verner Ave. for $1 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $189,080).

Brightwood

Clement Cahall to Brightwood Civic Group at 1213 Woodland Ave. for $7,000. Pittsburgh City to Brightwood Civic Group at 1320 Woodland Ave. for $2,000. Frederick Schwartz to Andre Broadus at 1431 Woodland Ave. for $5,000. Go Invest Wiesely LLC to Ross Harris Investment at 2925 Cake Way aka Hartman

St. for $5,000. Estate of Inez Zink to John and Alisha McCombs at 1325 Hodgkiss St. for $55,000. Estate of Frank Ransom to Wells Fargo Bank NA at 1145 New Hampshire Drive for $1,551 by sheriff ’s deed.

Central Northside Pittsburgh City to Matthew Williamson at 1307 Reddour St. for $4,000 Pittsburgh City to Joe Scolieri at 516 Dunloe St. for $2,000. Paul Johnson to Pamela Grove at 409 Alpine Ave. for $183,000. Leslie Vincen to Frank Martino at 1534 Monterey St. for $237,500. Erik Riedel to Jane Borthwick and Stephen Story at 1233 Palo Alto St. for $300,000. Terrance Snider to Robert Scialdone and Michael Paule at 1413 Arch St. for $135,000. Matthew Grebner to October Real Estate Holdings LLC at 1509 Arch St. for $47,000. Timothy Ohrum et al. to Kimble Hicks LLC at 20 Jacksonia St. for $25,000. Gary Manko to Peter and Andrea Thurlow at 1521 Wolpert Way for $174,000.Douglas Anderson et al. to Jaclyn Belczyk at Loraine St. and McBrier Way for $44,500.

Deutschetown

ARP Assoc. LLC to Jay Jones III at 1008 Cedar Ave. for $112,500. Michael Irwin to Bob Baumbach and Jennifer Saffron at 603 Thropp St. for $13,000. October Real Estate Holdings LLC to Michael Purcell and Sarah Worchel at Hemlock St. for $302,960. Ibrahim Elsayed to Kimble Hicks LLC at 533 Tripoli St. for $50,000.

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East Deutschetown

Catholic Institute Pittsburgh to October Real Estate Holdings LLC at 800 Ohio St. E and Madison Ave. for $70,000. Allegheny Valley Bank Pittsburgh to Regina McCauley at 851 Peralta St. for $23,000.

Manchester

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Sharon Spooner at 1435 Adams St. for $16,001.Manchester Housing Development LLC to Brett Weinheimer at 1324 Columbus Ave. for $100,000.Julia Scrivens et al. to Federal National Mortgage Assn. at 1219 Juniata St. for $2,293 by sheriff ’s deed. ATL Holdings LLC to Ashley MacDonald at 1015 Manhattan St. for $74,360.

Observatory Hill Brian Chapman to Aaron and Robyn Barber at 3709 Perrysville Ave. for $160,000. Bernard Jenks to Steven and Patrice Singleton at 4018 Perrysville Ave. for $27,000. Fredrick Jamison to Sams Uddin at 3799 East St. for $50,000. Cynthia Wilbur to Leeanne Lawlor and Timothy Brunette at 55-67 Watson Blvd. for $73,000.

Perry Hilltop

Beverly Portis to Ellyn Inc. at 209 Marshall Ave. for $82,000. Laverne Flook to Realty Choice Investments LLC at 208 Langley Ave. for $21,000.

Dale Csonka to DEC Northside Properties LLC at 121 Marshall Ave. for $1 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $55,360). Dale Csonka to DEC Northside Properties LLC at 2843 Perrysville Ave. for $1 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $72,732). Optimum Realty Corp. to CVN Enterprises LLC at 50 Tretow St. for $2,000. Federal National Mortgage Assn. to Bencho Aurora Contracting Services LLC a at 2212 Wilson Ave. for $3,000.

Spring Hill

James Leistner to L & H Investment Properties LLC at 1332 Diana Place for $15,000. Denise Benzer to Kevin and Crystal Jankowski at Lindell St. for $2,500. Denise Benzer to Kevin and Crystal Jankowski at 2534 Spring Garden Ave. for $20,500. Leonard Butler et al. to George Heinlein at 1217 Welser Way for $1,800.

Summer HillDennis James to Brandy Mitchell at 4436 Evergreen Road for $112,900.

Troy Hill Alan Majewski to Lizabeth Guzman and Jeffrey Manganello at 10 Waterside Place for $350,200. Pamela Dumont to Carl Hoffield at 1414-1418 Gardner St. for $5,000. James Billeter to First National Bank Pennsylvania at 2123-2127 Straubs Lane for $1,735 by sheriff ’s deed.

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The State Budget As you are all aware, the State Budget was signed into law on June 30th. The $27.15 billion spend-ing plan will impose deep cuts and a heavy burden on many families throughout Pennsylvania – and that is the reason that I voted against it. Education is the area that has been cut the deepest. Even more troubling is that the cuts, totaling more than $900 million, will hit poorer school districts the hardest and eliminate targeted programs for early learning initiatives and programs for strug-gling students. In Allegheny County, where property taxes are already high enough, it could likely result in actions by the local school board to either raise property taxes or cut services, programs and employees to be able to survive. This is not the budget we fought for and worked toward. This is not the budget that the major-ity of my constituents asked for – and certainly doesn’t address the issues with which they had a con-cern. While it may be a budget that

doesn’t raise taxes, its impact could very well be exactly that at the local level – which doesn’t make things any better. Please know that we are not going to give up or stop speaking to the issues that you are fac-ing, or will be facing, because of this budget. I still want to hear from you about what effect this budget will have or is having on you, your families and friends, your jobs and your lives. Each of us wears many hats, and I have no doubt that it will im-pact us all in many ways - as parents, employees, taxpayers, students, seniors and more. I will continue to speak to how you are im-pacted – but I need to hear from you.

New Law Protects PACE/PACENET Recipients If you received a small Social Security cost of living increase (COLA) that puts you over the income limit for participation in

the PACE/PACENET programs, you can still retain these benefits thanks to a new law that the Senate passed in June. Act 21 says that if

the Social Security COLA is the only change in income that puts a recipient over the income threshold, that it will not be counted toward their income. If you believe that you may be eligible for PACE or PACENET, please contact my office for an application and assistance.

Property Tax & Rent Rebate Program Deadline Extended The application period for the Property Tax & Rent Rebate Program has been extended through the end of the year. If you haven’t already applied, please visit my office for an application and assistance in completing the form. If you have already applied, the state began

issuing checks on July 1st. If you are a Pennsylvanian age 65 and older, a person with a disability 18 and older, or a widow or widower age 50 and older, you may be eligible. Income limits are $35,000 for homeowners and $15,000 for renters. The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can increase rebates to $975.

Need Help? Dial 2-1-1! Do you need food and shel-ter? Child care resources? Special services for children? Information about human services agencies? Do you know someone who does? A new service is available in Southwestern PA to connect people with important community services and volunteer opportunities. Just dial 2-1-1. Certi-fied call specialists are trained to as-sist callers with referrals and make them aware of other resources that may prevent further crises, such as foreclosure counseling services or avoiding a shut off of utilities.

State budget, PACE recipients, tax rebate and child resourcesFrom the office of State Sen. Wayne Fontana

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In late June, the House of Representatives passed a $27.15 billion state budget bill for the 2011-12 fiscal yeaR. I made the decision to vote “no” on this budget because it cuts millions of dollars from vital county government services and programs, shifting the burden to these already struggling and over-burdened agencies and leaving county governments with dire options – either eliminate the programs or increase taxes to make up the revenue.

With its unprecedented and devastating cuts to higher education, $200 million, this budget shows an incredible lack of foresight into the best interests of Pennsylvania’s future and a shocking misplacement of priorities.

These historic cuts – including a 19 percent cut to funding for the University of Pittsburgh – could dismantle the framework of public higher education and harm

Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness. This simply isn’t the place to cut back. These cuts to basic and higher education imperil the economic future of our region.

This budget also slashes funding to our public schools by nearly $1 billion – an unprecedented attack

on public education that will hurt our kids and cause school districts to raise local taxes in order to make up for the loss in revenue.

Our local schools will feel the pain of this budget, receiving significant decreases in total education funding for 2011-12. The Pittsburgh Public

Schools alone are cut by $26.7 million, or nearly 15 percent. The more than 200 job cuts announced by the district in June could be just the beginning of the hardships caused to our students due to this budget.

These cuts are unnecessarily harsh, especially because we have at least $700 million in surpluses that could be used to restore these painful cuts. It is irresponsible to leave these surplus funds in the state’s bank accounts, and then turn around and burden students with higher tuition bills and residents with increased local taxes.

I am committed to doing all I can to ensure the security of the communities and families I represent despite this difficult budget, and in ensuring that our needs and priorities remain at the forefront of the ongoing debates in Harrisburg. Please never hesitate to contact my offices for assistance with any matter relating to state government.

‘No’ vote on budget that shifts burden on local governments and taxpayers

From the office of State Rep. Chelsa Wagner

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The Game Page SudokuLast Month’s Puzzle Solutions

First published in a U.S. puzzle magazine in 1979, Sudoku caught on in Japan in 1986, and became internationally famous in 2005.

The aim of Sudoku is to enter a number from 1 through 9 in each space on a 9×9 grid made up of 3×3 subgrids (called “regions”). Some of the numbers have already been given. You may not use the same number twice in a single row, column, or region of the grid. Completing the puzzle requires patience and logical ability.

Chronicle CrosswordAcross1- Mineral used as a gem; 6- Mariners can sail on seven of these; 10- Unhearing; 14- Designer Simpson; 15- Came down to earth; 16- Patron saint of sailors; 17- ___ luck!; 18- I did it!; 19- Office note; 20- Ring of color; 22- Avis alternative; 24- Man-mouse connector; 26- Imperfect ear of corn; 27- Unsettle; 31- Loser to DDE; 32- Little bits; 33- Cancel; 36- ___-mo; 39- Reason to cancel school; 40- With no emotion; 41- Travel on water; 42- Hesitation; 43- Fine fiddle; 44- N Atlantic archipelago; 45- High mountain, as found in central Europe; 46- A thin net for veils; 48- Loud noise; 51- Alway; 52- Initiative; 54- Departs; 59- Off-Broadway theater award; 60- Problem with L.A.; 62- AKA; 63- Earthen pot; 64- Old Dodge model; 65- Way to cook; 66- Rind; 67- Russian no; 68- Thaws; Down1- Currency unit in Western Samoa; 2- Scent; 3- Sneaky guy?; 4- “______ sprach Zarathustra”; 5- Devoted; 6- Convened; 7- Dash; 8- Actor Quinn; 9- Busts and such; 10- Discharges from the RAF; 11- Nicholas Gage book; 12- Capital of Jordan; 13- Stupid person; 21- Sheet music abbr.; 23- Yeah, right!; 25- Fiber obtained from a banana plant; 27- Course; 28- New Rochelle college; 29- Pack away; 30- Shooting marble; 34- Mouthpiece of a bridle; 35- Martini garnish; 36- Delhi wrap; 37- Hero; 38- Designer Cassini; 40- Put away; 41- Gal of song; 43- Bunches; 44- Rifle; 45- Plea; 47- Conger; 48- Monetary unit of the former Soviet Union; 49- Author Zola; 50- British soldier; 52- Sticky stuff; 53- Nada; 55- Drug-yielding plant; 56- Antidote holder, maybe; 57- 3:00; 58- Grounded fleet; 61- Obtain, slangily;

Crossword puzzles provided by www. bestcrosswords.com / Used with permission.

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